Qantas’ new non-stop flight from Australia to Italy is the only direct flight between Australia and continental Europe offered by any airline.
Demand for point-to-point travel has only increased post-COVID and the new route is already proving popular as Australian’s flock to Italy to enjoy a European summer holiday and Europeans travel to Australia to visit friends and family and experience a unique holiday down under.
Qantas Group Chief Executive Officer, Alan Joyce said it’s great to have Qantas flights to Rome again.
“We are seeing strong demand for international travel as more countries relax restrictions. Australians are definitely on the move. Our customers are heading overseas to reunite with family and friends, to reconnect business links, and to rediscover the world and Italy is high on their travel wish list.”
“We’re also seeing an increasing preference for a direct flight to and from Australia to make the travel experience as efficient and easy as possible and we expect that will be a permanent shift in the way people want to travel.
“Qantas began services from Sydney to Rome in 1948 as part of our seven-stop Kangaroo Route to London, and from the early 1990s we flew our Queen-of-the-skies Boeing 747 twice a week until 2003 when direct services were suspended during the SARS pandemic.
“Almost 20 years and another global pandemic later, our flight paths once again lead to Rome proving it really is the eternal city.”
“We are very delighted to welcome in Rome the first-ever direct schedule flight from Australia to Italy and to Continental Europe”, Ivan Bassato Chief Aviation Officer of Aeroporti di Roma (ADR) says. “This valuable achievement is the result of a long-lasting joint work between Qantas and ADR, with the support of main National Institutions. Rome and Italy have confirmed the attractiveness of the biggest market in terms of volumes between Australia and Continental Europe; In 2019 nearly 500.000 passengers flew between the two countries via an intermediate stop. Now they can fly directly. We do believe that this important milestone will pave the opportunity for further collaborations and will enhance the strong social and economic relationships between Australia and Italy, facilitating mobility’s development for passengers and goods in the near upcoming future”
"A shot in the arm for the industry to see the recovery of the long haul supported by renewed energy. The launch of the direct flights operated by Qantas and the partnership with Tourism Australia and Tourism Western Australia mark a great new beginning for the industry. My wish is that we keep looking ahead just like an airplane’s nose persistently does and we get back to playing a crucial role in the development of the tourism industry with Italy ready and keen to welcome touristic flows. The dynamism of the airlines instils hope and revitalization to the destiny of one of the most desired countries in the world and with the greatest vocation and attractiveness for tourism", says Maria Elena Rossi ENIT – Italian Tourism Agency Marketing Director
Qantas will operate three flights a week from Rome to Sydney (via Perth) from now until 6 October.
To celebrate the launch of the new Rome route, Qantas has introduced a number of Italian-inspired menu items and Negroni cocktails across its lounges and inflight.
It has also added a special one-off collection of iconic Italian films to its Inflight Entertainment offering across all international flights featuring classics such as Scent Of A Woman, Rome, Open City and Life is Beautiful for additional Italian travel inspiration.
Tags: Aeroporti di Roma, Qantas
